Coin box



Aug. 28, 1962 G. c. ESTREM COIN BOX Filed Aug. 2, 1960 GEORGE 6. ESTREM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,051,308 COIN BOX George C. Estrem, Slayton, Minn. Filed Aug. 2, 1960, Ser- No. 47,033 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-.83)

This invention relates to a coin box and consists more particularly in new and useful improvements in a receptacle designed to facilitate the handling of loose change, either preparatory to making a bank deposit or in making change on occasions such as church suppers, bake sales, etc., where ordinarily cash registers are not available. The present invention represents an improvement in the development of the coin box shown in my Design Patent No. 186,789, dated December 1, 1959.

An object of the invention is to provide a coin box which is simple in construction and affords ready access to a series of separate channels contoured to receive the various denominations of coins, each channel being calibrated to indicate the total value represented by the coins therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin box of this character wherein the coin receiving channels are inclined toward one end of the box where the side wall is provided with a finger receiving notch adjacent the terminus of each slot to facilitate removale of the coins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin box which in addition to providing a normal inclination for the coin receiving chanels, includes a novel means for increasing the angle of inclination simply by the edgewise insertion of a coin such as a fifty cent piece beneath one side of the box where means are provided for retaining the coin in such position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coin handling box especially designed for use as an advertising item for banks and other similar institutions.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view of the box in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is an end View of the box with an elevating coin inserted beneath one side thereof;

FIG. 3 -is a view of the opposite end of the box showing in dotted lines the normal inclination of the coin receiving channels;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the box;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing in dotted lines the elevating coin retained in place beneath one side of the box; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the hinged end of the box with the cover raised, and illustrating the calibrations on the coin receiving channels.

In the drawings, 7 represents the body of the coin box which is preferably molded of suitable plastic material and consists of side walls 8 and 9 joined by end walls 10 and 11. The side walls are tapered downwardly from the end Wall 11 to the opposite end wall 10, and together with said end walls form a rectangular supporting base. A bottom 12 is integrally molded with the side and end Walls to form a series of laterally extending, parallel coin receiving channels 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, separated from one another by upstanding partitions 18, 19, 20 and 21. As seen in FIG. 5, the coin receiving channels are substantially U-shaped in cross-section and decrease in dimention in depth and size of contour from channel 13 to channel 17, to accommodate the circumference of coins "ice of varying denominations and sizes from a fifty cent piece to a dime, arranged edgewise in the respective channels.

One wall of each channel is provided with an offset shoulder 13a to 17a respectively, and the upper face of each shoulder is calibrated as seen in FIG. 6 to progressively indicate the total value of any group of coins placed side by side in edgewise position in respective channels. For example, channel 13 is designed to receive fifty cent pieces and its calibrated shoulder 13a carries indicia divided in increments of two dollars, while channel 14 which is designed to accommodate twenty-five cent pieces is calibrated on its shoulder 14a in increments of one dollar, and so on.

The forward side wall 8 is provided adjacent the terminus of each of the coin receiving channels with a thumb receiving notch or recess 22 to facilitate the removal of coins and the rear side Wall 9 has a series of cut-out portions 23 to provide openings at that end of each channel, said openings 23 conforming to the contours of the respective channels so that they are completely open-ended.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end walls 10 and 11 are also tapered, being of reduced height from the rear side wall 9 to the forward side wall 8, so that the rear ends of the coin receiving channels are elevated to provide a normal slope toward the forward side wall 8 which is provided with the thumb receiving notches 22.

A flat cover 24 is hingedly connected at the top edge of end wall 11 by suitable hinge assemblies 25, preferably consisting of complementary hinge parts respectively molded integrally with the cover 24 and the end wall 11. Laterally spaced webs 26 are preferably integrally molded to extend between the end wall 11 and the adjacent portion of the bottom 12 forming the coin receiving channel 13, to aiford support for that end wall which carries the hinged cover. The opposite end of the cover is provided with a suit-able snap fastener 27 adapted to engage a protruding lug 28 molded adjacent the upper edge of the end wall 10 to secure the cover in closed position.

As will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 24 is extended downwardly at one edge to provide an apron 29 which, when the cover is closed, completely overlaps the openings 23 defining the open extremities of the channels adjacent the rear side wall 9, to prevent the escape of coins from the respective slots when the cover is closed. The other two adjoining edges of the cover are preferably provided with shorter depending flanges 30 which slightly overlap the top edges of the respective side and end walls to provide an adequate closure for the box.

As before stated, the slanting design of the box provides a normal inclination for the coin receiving channels, but in some instances, it is desirable to further elevate the rear portion of the box to insure the forward disposition of the coins in the respective channels. For this purpose, I have provided means for inserting and retaining a large coin, such as a fifty cent piece, in edgewise position just inside the rear side wall 9 and beneath the two intermediate channels 14 and 15. This means may consist of two depending legs 31 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, molded integrally with the bottom 12 adjacent the channels 14- and 15. These legs 31 are spaced at suflicient distance from the side wall 9 to permit the insertion of a coin between the legs and the side wall so that the coin C forms an elevating support for the rear of the box as best seen in FIG. 2.

As will be seen in FIG. 4, the top surface of the box cover 24 provides a convenient space for advertising material in the event that banks or other financial institutions desire to distribute these coin boxes to their customers.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive device which is capable of use for various purposes where coins are collected and handled. The box is designed to afiord ease in inserting and removing coins and indicating at a glance the content of the various channels and the total values of the coins collected in the respective channels. It will be apparent that these boxes may be manufactured in plastics of any desired color to suit the taste of the user.

From the foregoing, it is believed that my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further descriptipm it'being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claim.

I'claim: I

A coin box comprising a body having side and end Walls, the lower edges of which form a supporting base, an integral bottom wall upwardly oifset within said side and end Walls and inclined from one side wall to the other, said bottom Wall being provided with a series of parallel corrugations of substantially uniform wall thickness and of graduated depth and contour, forming inclined coin receiving channels to accommodate coins of varying denominations and circumference, said body being tapered in one direction to conform to the graduated depth of said channels and in the other direction to conform to the elevation of said channels, a cover for said body, and a pair of spaced legs projecting downwardly respectively from the underside of adjacent corrugations of said bottomwall and spaced inwardly from the adjacent side Wall to receive a coin in edgewise position with a portion of its periphery engaging between said adjacent corrugations, whereby said body is further elevated at that side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 186,789 Estrem Dec. 1, 1959 363,239 Howe May 17, 1887 518,948 Hayden May 1, 1894 1,120,081 Potter Dec. 8, 1914 

